Abstract: A vend mechanism for transferring articles, or prizes, to a receiving area of a vending machine accessible from outside the machine, including an amusement game machine, has a plurality of conveyors arranged radially on each of a plurality of spaced plates. A first drive mechanism is provided to rotate an assembly of the plates so that a selected column of conveyors is in alignment with the receiving area and, for each plate, a second drive mechanism is provided to operate the conveyor that is in the transferring orientation so that an article, or prize, on the conveyor is transferred to the receiving area.

Abstract: Gears are composed of a drive gear 7 that is interlocked with the rotating shaft of a motor 6, a driven gear 13 that is interlocked with a rotor 9, and an intermediate gear 14 made up of a first gear section 15 that gears with the drive gear 7 and a second gear section 16 that gears with the driven gear 13. At least a gear ratio of the second gear section 16 to the first gear section 15 of the intermediate gear 14 is made small so as to prevent tablets in other pocket sections 10 adjacent to a pocket section 10 open to a discharge port 11 from falling from the discharge port 11 when a tablet housing case 4 is detached from a case support base 3. This makes it possible to thoroughly prevent tablets from falling down when the tablet housing case is detached from the case support base despite a simple structure.

Abstract: A dispenser is disclosed that is particularly suitable for dispensing packaged items such as bandages or membrane filters. The dispenser is provided with a magazine for holding the items, with a distribution assembly for exposure and distribution of the items, an ejector operable in advance/feed and disposal modes, and with a separating assembly for separation of the item from its packaging.

Abstract: The dispenser of the present invention is for delivering product such as cards, paper stock or the like product to a demand location. The dispenser includes a product hopper for a plurality of product; a feed belt for receiving the product; at least two feed assemblies; and a drive motor operably attached to the feed belt and each feed assembly.

Abstract: A feed lever is lowered, correspondingly to the load input of a chip mounter. A rotary drum is intermittently moved through a conversion mechanism, intermittently in one direction. Chip components placed in a component accommodation chamber are aligned and discharged. When a rotation resistance larger than a predetermined value acts, a belt is slid, and breaking of a chip component is prevented.

Abstract: A dispenser structure for chaff countermeasures includes at least one chaff dispenser having a dispenser tube with a tube sidewall, a dispensing opening, and a female thread structure in an inner surface of the tube sidewall, and a male worm gear engaged to the female thread structure of the dispenser tube. A drive structure has a motor mount upon which the worm gear is rotatably supported, with the motor mount being mechanically reacted to prevent the motor mount from turning, and a drive motor affixed to the motor mount and having a motor output connected to the worm gear to controllably turn the worm gear. Chaff countermeasures are disposed within the dispenser tube between the worm gear and the dispensing opening, so that they may be pushed out the dispensing opening as the motor turns the worm gear.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cigarette vending machine, especially for installing in the checkout area of a market or the like, comprising a housing (12) wherein several shafts (16) are located (16). Said shafts accommodate columns of cigarette packs (18) which are oriented upright with their broad sides resting against each other. A discharge outlet for individual cigarette packs is located at the front of the shafts (16). The aim of the invention is to provide a simple means of discharging a cigarette pack whilst ensuring that the packs are suitably presented to the customer. The pack should not however be removed directly from the supply shaft. To this end, an optionally controllable drive mechanism (36, 38, 40) is allocated to each shaft (16). Each drive mechanism has a pressure piece (42) which exerts pressure acting on the back side of the rearmost cigarette pack (18) of the column of packs, urging frontwards.

Abstract: A cup transfer device of a vending machine capable of accurately controlling the stop position of a cup holder having a cup holder; a means for driving the cup holder; a means for controlling the position of the cup holder; and a means for adjusting the position of the cup holder. The position adjusting means includes a position adjusting detent formed at an outer circumference of a sensing disk and a roller pressed to the outer circumference of the sensing disk by a resilient member.

Abstract: A product delivery apparatus for a vending has a rotatable product delivery drum that includes a selling product supporting face disposed outside the rotation axis of the delivery drum and which is concaved in an arc form toward the rotation axis, and a next selling product supporting face which extends concetrically with respect to the rotation axis to support a product for next sale. A product passage has an enlarged-width section for permitting the passage of the product for sale.

Abstract: The oral medication delivery device provides patient access to medications prescribed to be available on an as-needed basis, but with a minimum time intervals between doses. The required time interval between drug accessibility is programmed into the device when the medication tray carrying the multiple doses is loaded into the device. The device allows access to a single dose of the medication after each minimum time interval has elapsed. When the drug dose is removed from the device, the medication tray locks until the next minimum time interval has elapsed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tablet feeder in which a rotor can smoothly rotate to discharge tablets in spite of a large volume type of tablet containing case having a simple construction. A support portion 11 is provided in the tablets containing case 4 and positioned above at least one of the pocket portions 9 for preventing the weight of the tablets acting on the pocket portions 9 from resisting the rotation of the rotor 8.

Abstract: The convenience of a medication supplying apparatus is improved. The medication supplying apparatus is equipped with a tablet case (1) having a dispensing drum for dispensing medications from an accommodating container that accommodates medications, a motor for driving the dispensing drum, a controlling means for controlling the operation of the motor, and a dispensing detection means for detecting the dispensing of a medication from the tablet case (1), wherein the controlling means reverses the motor if the dispensing detection means does not detect normal dispensing of a medication when the motor is rotated to dispense a medication.

Abstract: Disclosed is a product carry-out apparatus for a vending machine, adapted for carrying a product, which has been delivered downward from a product housing within a vending machine body at the time of selling, in a diagonally upward and forward direction and then carrying out the product to a product take-out port. The apparatus comprises: a conveyor which is rotatable about the rear end between a forward and upward inclined position for selling and a substantially horizontal position for maintenance and, at the time of selling, at the position for selling, receives, on its upper surface, the product delivered from the product housing and carries the product in a diagonally upward and forward direction; and a support for holding the conveyor at the position for selling or at the position for maintenance.

Abstract: A fastener injector (18) includes a plurality of tubes (86) operable to transfer a plurality of different sizes and types of fasteners (20) in a desired orientation. The injector also includes a receiver (88) operable to receive the fasteners (20) in the desired orientation from the tubes (86). The receiver (88) includes a plurality of receiver fingers (90) operable to receive the fasteners (20) from the tubes (86) and retain the fasteners (20) in the desired orientation. An injector blade (106) is operable to transfer the fasteners (20) in the desired orientation from the receiver (88) to a fastener installation device.

Abstract: In a delivery device small parts (15) in the nature of studs, bushes, pins and suchlike are conducted by means of a perpendicularly displaceable strut (6) into a transportation channel (11) from a sloping collection area (1). The strut (6) slides along a retaining and dividing wall (3) and has an upper narrow side 6a which slopes obliquely downwards towards the retaining and dividing wall (3). Owing to the obliquely downwards directed slope of the upper narrow side (6a) the small parts (15) become reliably lodged on the retaining and dividing wall (3) when the strut (6) is located in its lower operating position (FIG. 2). In the upper operating position the small parts (15) slide obliquely downwards over the retaining and dividing wall (3) into the transportation channel (11). A metering plate (7) with projections and gaps, located on the strut (6) in its upper region, determines how many small parts (15) are to be conducted into the transportation channel (11) each time the strut (6) is lifted.

Abstract: A rapid feed paintball loader for use upon a conventional paintball gun. The rapid feed paintball loader includes a container for holding a plurality of paintballs. At a bottom portion of the container is a rotatable drive cone having a plurality of vertical fins. Each fin forms a gap with an adjacent fin large enough to accommodate a paintball. At the bottom of the container is an exit tube which exits from the bottom portion of the container and leads to an inlet tube of the paintball gun. A tube extension is mounted on an interior surface of the container adjacent to the sloped exit portion of the exit tube. The tube extension is mounted at a height which is above the top feed surface of the fins, and which is approximately equal to the radius of a paintball. A pivotable deflector is also mounted on an interior surface of the container adjacent the tube extension to prevent paintball jams from occurring within the interior of the container.

Abstract: A plurality of different operative candy dispensers which can be interconnected as one device through which candy pieces are dispensed from a first candy dispenser and which are dispensed in order through each of the interconnected candy dispensers. Each of the candy dispensers includes a main housing, a motor, gear train, power supply, control switch, candy reservoir, exit spout from said housing and a mechanism for moving and dispensing the candy from the exit spout of the housing. Each of the separate candy dispensers are equipped with an auxiliary electrical plug or connection by which each of the candy dispensers can be connected to a master switch which when closed will bypass the control switch of each separate candy dispenser to operate all of the interconnected dispensers together.

Abstract: There is disclosed a medicine supply apparatus which improves the cost and operability required for the maintenance of individual tablet cases. In the medicine supply apparatus, a plurality of tablet cases are stored in a main body case storage part, each tablet case includes a container for containing a medicine and provided with a discharge drum for discharging the medicine and a drive table provided with a motor for driving the discharge drum, transmission mechanism for transmitting a motor drive force to the discharge drum and a medicine detection sensor for detecting the medicine discharged from the discharge drum, and the drive table and container are detachably attached to the tablet case.

Abstract: A card device comprises a card-dispensing stop board which is provided with two racks mounted thereon. The stop board can be adjusted in position by a gear shaft of the card device. The gear shaft is provided with two gears mounted on both ends thereof such that the two gears are meshed with the two racks of the stop board. The gear shaft is provided at one end with a rotary knob for actuating the gear shaft to drive the stop board to displace upward or downward.

Abstract: A cup transfer device of a vending machine capable of accurately controlling the stop position of a cup holder having a cup holder; a means for driving the cup holder; a means for controlling the position of the cup holder; and a means for adjusting the position of the cup holder. The position adjusting means includes a position adjusting detent formed at an outer circumference of a sensing disk and a roller pressed to the outer circumference of the sensing disk by a resilient member.

Abstract: A unit dose medicine feeder for use in a packaging machine that can receive pills individually from a reservoir has a cylindrical housing having a base with an opening through which a pill may pass. There is a wheel-like component on the base, that has a plurality of slots about its outer periphery. The slots are sized to receive a single pill in the form of a tablet capsule or caplet and are oriented to have walls that are 10° to 45° from vertical. A gear mechanism is provided to connect the wheel-like component to a motor to rotate the wheel-like component. That rotation will sequentially align the slots with the opening in the base allowing a pill within the slot to pass from the slot through the opening. The orientation of the slots enables the wheel to receive a wider range of pill sizes without jamming and without dispensing more than one unit from a slot. Preferably, there is a trap door in the medicine feeder that directs a dispensed pill directly to packaging material in a packaging machine.

Abstract: A portable electrically operable and tamper resistant medication dispenser for supplying multiple daily medications to a patient on a predetermined schedule and which includes a programmable assembly for indexing a plurality of containers which are filled with the medications to a dispenser outlet.

Abstract: There is disclosed a medicine supply apparatus which can improve the efficiency of a dispensing operation. The medicine supply apparatus comprises a plurality of tablet cases 3 stored in a main body case storage part, each tablet case including a container 51 for containing medicines, and a discharge drum 53 for discharging the medicines one by one from the container 51, and the container 51 is provided with a residual amount sensor 58 for detecting that the residual amount of medicines in the container 51 is lowered to indicate a predetermined value.

Abstract: A dispenser for storing/dispensing pharmaceutical dosages that are provided in a stamp-like (flat) dosage form. In some embodiments, the present dispenser includes a housing for retaining a plurality of stacked, individual “stamp-like” pharmaceutical dosages. Disposed within the housing beneath the dosages is a bias element, such as a helical spring, that urges the dosages towards a dosage delivery port of the housing. From the dosage delivery port, dosages are dispensed through an aperture. In other embodiments, the instant dispenser includes a cylindrical main body for retaining pharmaceutical dosages having a stamp-like dosage form that are collectively organized in a roll. A dosage delivery port depending from the cylindrical main body receives dosages one at a time therefrom. The present dispenser is configured, in various embodiments, for manual, mechanically assisted, or automated dispensing.

Abstract: An automatic machine for storing and dispensing a desired number of spherical objects (1), for example golf balls. A magazine has at least one sloping floor surface (2, 3, 4, 7), a conveyor belt (11) extending from an infeed position to a discharge position, and an object counter (16) disposed at the conveyor belt (11) for counting the number of objects (1) displaced on the conveyor belt (11) past the counter (16).

Abstract: There is disclosed a medicine supply apparatus which can improve the dispensing operation efficiency. The medicine supply apparatus is constituted by storing a plurality of tablet cases in a main body case storage part, each tablet case comprising a container for containing a medicine and a discharge drum for discharging the medicine from the container, comprises a motor for driving the discharge drum and a controller for controlling the operation of the motor, and the controller comprises means for rotating forward the motor to discharge the medicine and for detecting medicine sticking, so that when the medicine sticking occurs, the motor is rotated backward and then rotated forward.

Abstract: The present invention is a machine for dispensing articles, such as a vending machine, wherein the bottom article in a stack of articles is dispensed. To solve the problem of frictional resistance and excessive weight on the bottom article as it is being dispensed, the present invention provides a lifting mechanism to raise a portion of the stack of articles while the machine dispenses the bottom article. The lifting of the stack of articles above the bottom article relieves the weight of the stack from the bottom article, thereby reducing the frictional force as the machine slides the article out of a gate. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of lifting mechanisms operated by a common driving source cooperate to lift the portion of the stack of articles during the sliding operation and return the stack automatically once the bottom article has been dispensed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing machine for printed publications. The vending machine allows to dispense one copy at a time by providing a metering break next to a dispensing channel. The vending machine has a hollow housing, within which a detachable module is slidably mounted. An operational portion of the machine includes a motor controlled by a microchip that constantly adjusts the speed of the motor depending on the thickness of the dispensed publication. A paper speed sensor sends a signal to the motor to facilitate adjustment in the speed control. Printed publications rest in an upright position on moving endless belts that are connected to the motor for advancing the publications toward the dispensing channel. One or more torsion springs support the front face of the forwardmost publication immediately prior to dispensing to prevent premature opening of an unfolded edge of the publication and jamming of the dispensing channel.

Abstract: Equipment is provided for issuing IC cards packed in transparent films, etc. without damaging the card or the packaging. The equipment includes a dispenser which can be loaded with s large number of cards in simple and at short time. An elevator for the card bodies is provided with a flexible rack a driving mechanism for moving the rack in up and down directions, a movable base which arranged at the bottom end, for carrying card bodies. The dispenser includes the elevator with the movable base as well as a fan for taking up the top most card body on the movable base and a tire or wheel for sending out the card body which is taken up at the fan.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for article dispensing includes an article bay for holding a plurality of articles, and a conveying mechanism below the article bay operable to move an article. The conveying mechanism can repeat such movement for succeeding articles to a dispensing location. Succeeding articles can optionally be placed on top of the articles directly on the conveying mechanism. The succeeding articles are retained until they move by gravity to the conveying mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing machine for printed publications. The vending machine allows to dispense one copy at a time by providing a metering break above a dispensing channel. The vending machine has a hollow housing, within which a detachable module is slidable mounted. An operational portion of the machine includes a drive screw connected to a motor by a gear assembly. The printed publications are supported in an upright position on a bearing plate and are advanced towards the dispensing channel by a push plate connected to the drive screw.

Abstract: A device to separate rubber stoppers that have adhered together, typically as a result of sterilization. The device contains a hopper, a pair of rollers and a mechanism to turn the rollers. The rollers are hexagonal-shaped and each face has a scalloped concavity. The adhering stoppers are gravity-fed into the rollers from the hopper, where they are compressed and a shearing force is applied to separate the adherent stoppers. The separated stoppers are then collected for further processing.

Abstract: A fastener injector (18) includes a plurality of tubes (86) operable to transfer a plurality of different sizes and types of fasteners (20) in a desired orientation. The injector also includes a receiver (88) operable to receive the fasteners (20) in the desired orientation from the tubes (86). The receiver (88) includes a plurality of receiver fingers (90) operable to receive the fasteners (20) from the tubes (86) and retain the fasteners (20) in the desired orientation. An injector blade (106) is operable to transfer the fasteners (20) in the desired orientation from the receiver (88) to a fastener installation device.

Abstract: An electronically actuated bulk vending machine with a merchandise storage globe seated on a base for electronically actuated distribution of the merchandise via a rotatable merchandise wheel nested in the base and under the storage globe where the machine includes an electric motor for rotating a gear where the gear extends from the motor to engage the merchandise wheel along the peripheral gearing thereof.

Abstract: A portable electrically operable and tamper resistant medication dispenser for supplying multiple daily medications to a patient on a predetermined schedule and which includes a programmable assembly for indexing a plurality of containers which are filled with the medications to a dispenser outlet.

Abstract: An ampule feeder which can discharge ampules one by one with high efficiency without the possibility of clogging. It includes an ampule container having a bottom plate pivotable in one direction. Ampules stored randomly in the container are moved onto an inclined top surface of an ampule receiver and raised. When the ampule receiver rises to its highest level, the ampules slide on its surface and drop onto a conveyor belt of a dispenser provided outside of the side wall of the ampule container. Ampules are thus discharged by the dispenser.

Abstract: A method for converting a multiple access newspaper vending machine into a single vend machine is described. The vending machine will have a cavity with a rack assembly for holding a stack of newspapers and a pivoting door for closing the cavity. The conversion includes mounting into the cavity of the vending machine a feed assembly which has a bracket and a roller member rotatably mounted to the bracket. The feed assembly rests within the cavity above the rack assembly in a manner such that the bracket pivots within the cavity and the roller member floats on the top copy of the stack of printed publications. A drive assembly having an unidirectional drive mechanism and a reset mechanism is also positioned within the cavity. A plate member having a publication discharge portal with dimensions sufficient to allow discharge therethrough of a single copy of the printed publication is positioned across the opening of the cavity.

Abstract: A tablet feeder includes a mechanism for preventing tablets from being discharged from any pocket formed in the outer periphery of a rotor mounted on a tablet storage case when the case is fitted on or removed from a support. The tablet feeder includes the tablet storage case and the support. The rotor is rotatably mounted on an inner bottom of the case. A plurality of pockets are formed in the outer periphery of the rotor at predetermined intervals. The rotor is rotated by a motor through a gear. A resilient engaging member having a toothed tip is mounted on the inner bottom of the case. The resilient engaging member carries a disengaging arm. When the case is dismounted from the support, the toothed tip engages a gear provided at the bottom end of the rotor, preventing the rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A lottery machine preventing lotteries from drawing out illegally mainly includes a base, a lottery moving device, a face plate and a coil spring. A micro switch is provided on one of two parallel side plates of the base, and held in ON condition by a stop pushed by the lottery moving device laid between two rails on the left side plate to move back and forth. A lottery is normally moved out of an outlet of the face plate by turning on a motor of the lottery moving device. But when a lottery is to be pulled out unlawfully, the lottery moving device can be moved forward by an external force pulling the lottery, cutting off the micro switch to stop the lottery moving device. Then the lottery may be pressed down firmly by an activating plate against a guider under the outlet, unable to be pulled out unlawfully.

Abstract: Provided is a plurality of component supply units (A, B, C) having a component supply table (11) mounted with a plurality of component supply cassettes (1), a rail (12) which reciprocatingly movably guides and supports the component supply table, a base (22) which fixes the rail, a driving member (14) which moves in a direction in which a component determining table moves while being able to be positioned in the base, and a coupling member (13f, 13c, 13r, 16) which can releasably couple the component determining table with the driving member.

Abstract: A fruit feeder for vending machines includes a container for fruit storage, a fruit elevator and a horizontal fruit conveyor. The elevator is composed of two vertical endless chains between which are mounted horizontal vanes and which elevate and eject the fruit. The horizontal transporter is composed of two rollers turning in different directions and which have helical ribbings of opposite inclinations, receiving the fruit from the elevator to transport them to a collecting trough of the squeezer.

Abstract: A device for separately releasing ball bodies and coins, including a motor, a base seat, a rotary disc, a driving lever, an outer cover and a shaft. The motor is disposed on rear side of the base seat with the shaft passed through the base seat and fitted into a shaft hole of the rotary disc. The driving lever is inclinedly locked on the base seat to abut against the rotary disc. An upper and a lower edges of the outer cover are formed with arch notches and ball releasing holes. The outer cover is locked on front side of the base seat. An opening of the outer cover is fitted with the collecting funnel. The ball releasing holes are disposed on lower edge of the outer cover and inclinedly arranged along the rotational direction of the motor. The ball bodies and coins going into the outer cover from the collecting funnel are rotarily driven by the rotary disc and separately released from the ball releasing holes and arch notches.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing cell for use in an automatic dispensing machine includes a housing defining a medicament storage section, a discharge section leading to an outlet, a passage between the sections, a rotatable platen and a dispensing assembly for dispensing medicament in single file from the storage section to the discharge section. A resilient, flexible bushing having outwardly extending fingers encloses the hub of the platen for conveying medicament through the passage. The platen includes a plurality of spirally configured conveying members defined on the surface thereof and the dispensing assembly includes a selectively adjustable passage wall for adjusting the breadth of the passage.

Abstract: A dispenser for disc-shaped car-park tickets which makes it possible on a permanent basis for the car-park tickets provided for issuing to be made available reliably, as required, from a supply of car-park tickets, and which is of simple design. The dispenser separates car-park tickets coming from a supply container and moves them, in a pushed group, through a transporting duct which bridges a spatial distance between the supply container and the issuing apparatus. In addition to the spatial distance bridged, a vertical ascent is also surmounted, in order that the car-park tickets can be moved into the issuing apparatus and issued from the same under the action of gravity. Further configurations of the invention can be gathered from the claims and from the following description.

Abstract: A particulate material dispensing system suitable for metering seed for individual rows of a seed sowing drill. The seed sowing drill having a container which acts as a seed hopper. Positioned beneath the container is a metering device. Below the metering device are a number of tubes which are seed outlets to which the metering device feeds the seed it receives from the container. A peripheral guide forms part of the metering device. The peripheral guide is a disc of material that defines an aperture. On the inner walls of the guide is a seed track and an outlet. There are a plurality of seed track/outlet combinations, one for each of the outlets. A vertical-axis rotor fits within the aperture of the guide. The rotor rotating within the aperture causes seed falling from the container into the guide to be dragged down and around the inside walls of the guide. The seeds are guided by a seed track to a guide outlet and into the appropriate seed outlet. At the base of the seed track is a flange.

Abstract: A display device for a fluid filler gun head includes a carrying body and a frame attached to an upper surface of the carrying body, defining a display portion for removable display placards. The carrying body can be removable from the gun head or can be an integral part of the gun head itself. A housing is defined in the carrying body for holding one or more replaceable rolls of coupons, and a rotating device, is provided for rotating the coupon rolls and dispensing one or more coupons through a slot in the carrying body. A controller can be provided to control operation of the rotating device, based on information received from an external source, to dispense one or more selected coupons. The information can be a type of fluid being dispensed, a particular product displayed on the display placard, or the like. The dispensed coupons preferably are selected to match the information received by the controller.

Abstract: A medication filling apparatus is equipped with a tablet case for holding medications and a dispensing drum which lets the medications fall through an outlet from the tablet case as it rotates, thereby dispensing the medications; it is further equipped with a plurality of grooves into which the medications from the tablet case are fed and which let the medications fall therefrom when they are aligned with the outlet; and a separating member which is provided in such a manner that it juts out into or over the groove aligned with the outlet. The separating member is composed of a material which has predetermined lateral and longitudinal dimensions and also certain flexibility; the separating member is capable of securely retaining a medication thereon. Furthermore, since the separating member has certain flexibility, it does not scratch medications even if the medications bump against it, and it also prevents a dispensing failure caused by the medications being caught.

Abstract: An ejection apparatus for dispensing an item from a stack of items, for example, in a vending machine, includes an ejector member mounted for reciprocal movement. A movable member is connected to the ejector member and can be relatively rigid when transmitting force to the ejector member during an ejection stroke but can be bent during a return stroke to enable a compact storage configuration. A tube member can receive the movable member and bend it during its return stroke.

Abstract: A new Motorized Newspaper Dispensing System for dispensing of various printed literature within one machine and further minimizing theft by dispensing only one printed literature at a time. The inventive device includes a housing structure strengthened to resist theft which houses various printed literature, a support means elevating the housing structure to a level comfortable for purchasers, a coin receiving means, a dispensing means which mechanically dispenses the selected printed literature, and a sign stand secured to the upper portion of the housing structure providing space for advertising.

Abstract: An active feed loader for a paintball gun. The active feed loader includes a generally horizontal interior passageway or channel having a first end in communication with an interior space of the housing where paintballs are housed. A rotatable paddle positioned in the interior space forces paintballs out of the housing and through the interior passageway or channel until they drop through an opening therein into a vertical outfeed tube where they form a paintball stack. When the paintball gun is fired, the paintball stack is depleted until a sensor detects the absence of a paintball at a specified location within the outfeed tube. Upon detecting the absence, the sensor activates a motor which rotates the paddle to force paintballs through the interior passageway and into the outfeed tube where they replenish the paintball stack. When the stack is fully replenished, the sensor will detect the presence of a paintball at the specified location and deactivate the motor, thereby stopping the paddle.